HC Deb 27 February 1969 vol 778 cc1905-6
18. Mr. Boston

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the periods in which special postmarks have, with his permission, been used with slogans indicating the attractions of the Isle of Sheppey for holiday, residential and industrial purposes.

Mr. Stonehouse

These postmark slogans were used at Sheerness from August, 1963 to August, 1968, and they are being used at Ilford and Barking throughout 1969.

Mr. Boston

Will my right hon. Friend accept that his highly satisfactory reply shows how absurd was the claim made in another place by a former chairman of Essex County Council that this slogan was being used as part of the campaign to keep the third London Airport away from the Isle of Sheppey, especially as the slogan was in use for five years before the Commission of Inquiry into the third London Airport was announced?

Mr. Stonehouse

I am grateful for what my hon. Friend has said, and I congratulate him on his ingenuity in bringing out a lot of other things.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the last few weeks gave the best moment to have a stamp about the QE2?

Mr. Stonehouse

Yes, I think that it was. This is another question, but it was important to have the series of ship stamps coming out when they did.